Veteran promoter Bob Arum has warned that Amir Khan’s defence of his two world
titles in opponent Lamont Peterson’s home town could easily backfire on the
British fighter on Saturday night.

Khan and Peterson came face to face on Thursday at the final news conference.

“I can feel his nerves,” said Khan. “He’s on edge”.

However, Arum, rival promoter to Khan’s US handlers Golden Boy Promotions, accused fellow promoter Oscar de la Hoya of making “a grave mistake” by allowing Khan to fight in a town where Peterson and his trainer, Barry Hunter, are venerated community heroes.

In two of his three previous fights in the US, Khan has fought ’home’ fighters. In New York, he defeated Brooklynite Paulie Malignaggi at Madison Square Garden, and in July, broke down and stopped Zab Judah in Las Vegas, which the American has made his adopted city.

De la Hoya disagreed. “Amir reminds me of myself at the same age. He is brimful with enthusiasm, and will fight anyone, anywhere. That’s the attitude of a real champion, and that attitude wins you fans,” he said.

Arum, who turned 80 yesterday as Khan celebrated his 25th birthday, has developed the careers of several great names over four decades from Muhammad Ali to Floyd Mayweather.

He said: “It was a grave mistake going to Washington, giving Peterson home advantage. Golden Boy has turned this into a very tough assignment for Khan.” “Taking it to Washington has evened up the fight. A lot of people want to see Peterson win, because he has fought his way off the streets.”

“In Las Vegas, this would have been a 60-40 fight in Khan’s favour; by taking it to Washington, where Peterson is loved, where his trainer Barry Hunter is very respected and venerated, it has turned it into a 50-50 fight.”